Display package



Oct. 19, 1965 H. w. TOMLINSON DISPLAY PACKAGE Filed Sept. 30, 1963 MN 0 w N :N l L N M 0 T w D L O R A H ATTYSv United States Patent 3,212,638 DXSPLAY PACKAGE Harold W. Tomlinson, Delmar, N.Y., assignor to H. W. Tomlinson Company, Incorporated, Delmar, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 312,377 11 Claims. (Cl. 206-78) The present invention relates to packaging of small articles, and has particular application to packaging such articles for display purposes.

It has been the practice in the merchandising of small articles to include in the packing of the article a display card of cardboard or other reasonable rigid material which is of convenient size for handling and shipping or storage. In order to protect the merchandise while permitting visual inspection thereof prior to sale, a transparent cover is normally applied. The transparent cover may take the form of a plastic envelope into which the card with the articles secured thereto is placed, or it may take the form of a preformed plastic bubble attached to the card with the bubble overlying the article, or it may comprise a plastic film deposited on the card and article,

1 the film being thereafter molded in situ to conform closely to the outline of the article. While such packages may be satisfactory in many respects, each has a drawback which renders it unsatisfactory for many applications.

The present invention provides an improved package which is not possessed of all of the disadvantages of the prior display packages of this type.

More specifically, the present invention provides a display package which is highly economical to manufacture and assemble with the merchandise to be contained in the package.

The present invention provides a package which eliminates the necessity, in many cases, for separate fastening means to retain the merchandise on the display card.

The package of the present invention also serves to protect the displayed article from damage without detracting from the decorative characteristics of the package.

These and other objects of the invention are more fully set forth hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package made in accordance with the present invention with a portion broken away to illustrate its construction;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of an initial step in the formation of the package shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing an intermediate step in the formation of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 of the completed package, as taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing in full lines a modified form of package in the final stage of its fabrication, and in broken lines, the form of the package arranged for shipment; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional View similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a still further modification of a package made in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the package of the present invention comprises a display board 12 of sandwich construction having upper and lower layers 13 and 14, preferably paperboard, respectively embracing a core 15. The board 12 is of substantial thickness and, is provided in its upper surface with a plurality of recesses 16 for receiving therein the display article shown in broken lines at 17. The recesses are covered by a transparent cover film, in the present instance, in the form of a transparent sheath 18 enclosing the entire board 12. As best shown in FIG. 4, the marginal portion of the board about the outer periphery thereof, is beveled as indicated at 19.

The board 12 is preferably of the type disclosed in US. Patent Number 2,770,406 which issued November 13, 1956, to Gardiner Lane, and comprises a core of foamed polystyrene 15 having secured thereto upper and lower sheets of kraft paperboard 13 and 14 respectively. In the present instance, the sandwich board comprises a unicellular styrene foam core having a density of 4.0 pounds per cubic foot and the upper and lower layers consist of 42 lb. natural kraft board constructed so as to provide the board 12 with a thickness of approximately 4 inch. The styrene foam core is compressible without rupture and without returning to its original thickness, and is able to take and hold permanent compressive set.

In the fabrication of a package in accordance with the present invention, as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 inclusive, the sandwich board 12 may be formed to its ultimate shape in a single operation. To this end, the board is die-formed in a suitable die-cutting apparatus. A sheet of sandwich board 12a is cut to the proper outside dimension by a suitable straight-edge steel rule blade 21, which when it operates against the board 12a, serves not only to shear the edge of the board, as shown in FIG. 3, but also serves to bevel the sheared edge by compressing the core material 15 to less than one half its original thickness whereby the core at its peripheral margin, is compressed to a substantially higher density. The beveling of the peripheral edge 19 of the board 12 provides a neatly finished edge which by reason of the upper and lower paper layers 13 and 14, may be decorated by conventional printing operations performed prior to the forming operation.

Simultaneously with the peripheral forming, or sepa rately in the same or the different apparatus, the recesses 16 are formed in the required number and at the desired location. In the present instance, the recesses 16 are circular in form and are formed by a circular die 22 having a serrated-edge blade 23 depending downwardly slightly about its periphery. The serrated-edge blade 23 operates to separate the upper layer 13 without compressing the core material surrounding the blade. The interior body portion 24 of the die 22, as it is advanced downwardly, compresses the core material so that it assumes and holds a permanent compressive set at a substantially higher density. The portion of the upper layer 13 which is separated from the remainder by the serratededge blade conforms exactly to the outline of the recess 16 and defines the bottom thereof. In this manner, the recess 16 is provided with cylindrical, straight side walls which are substantially normal to the upper surface of the board 12, the walls below the upper layer 13 on the surface of the board, being composed of the uncompressed core material 15. As pointed out above, the bottom of the recess 16 is surfaced with the material of the upper layer 13 and may therefore be applied with a decorative coating, for example in the previous printing operation. Thus, the board as seen from above, exhibits a substantially uninterrupted decorative appearance corresponding to the decorative appearance of the board prior to the die cutting operations, both in the area of the recess 16 and around the marginal edge 19. The dieforming operations on the display board are performed simply and effectively since there is no waste material to be stripped or removed from the board in the forming operation.

The completely formed board is in condition to receive the product to be packaged. The recesses in the board may receive individual articles, or may, as indicated in 17, receive material in granular or discrete particulate form. Inasmuch as the board provides positive receptacles in the form of the recesses 16, the present invention enables the packaging in a display package of small portions of granular or discrete particulate material which has not heretofore been susceptible of display packaging due to the inability of the material to be fastened to the display board of the package. It should be noted that the side walls of the recess, being of uncompressed unicellular styrene form a satisfactory receptacle for granular and particulate material. After the merchandise is deposited in the recesses 16, the recesses are covered with a suitable transparent cover. In the present instance, the cover is mounted on the board 12 by wrapping the board with a sheath of transparent cover film 18 and preferably heat-shrinking the film to intimately conform to the contour of the board, and thereby to retain the material 17 within the recesses 16.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the merchandise in the recess 16 is protected from direct impact on all sides except the upper surface by the core material. In instances where it is desirable to also protect the upper surface against direct impact, a package such as shown in FIG. may be used. As shown in FIG. 5, the package comprises a display board 32 having a recess 36 therein similar to the recess 16 for receiving the merchandise indicated in broken lines at 37. In the present instance, the recess 36 is covered by a transparent cover film 38 which, in the present instance, is adhesively mounted on the upper layer of the sandwich board 32. To protect the exposed surface of the article 37 from impact, the board is folded over as indicated at 32a to overlie the recess 36 and protect the article 37 against impact from above. To facilitate the folding over of the board 32, a score line is impressed therein as indicated at 39. If desired, the folded-over board may be enclosed in a suitable sheath or may be otherwise secured in folded position, as desired (not shown).

The previously described embodiments of the invention have been particularly suited for packaging merchandise which fits entirely within the recesses formed in the display board. While the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 may be suitable for packaging articles which project out of the recess 16, it may be preferred to use a preformed cover piece, for example as shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment of the invention, the sandwich board 42 is formed with a recess 46, preferably in the same manner as described above in connection with the recess 16 of the first embodiment. An article 47 is placed in the recess and a transparent preformed cover piece 48 is mounted on the board 42, for example by adhesive or friction, in place over the cavity 46 and the article 47. In the assembly of the cover piece to the package, it may be desired to anchor the article 47 within the recess adhesively. To this end, in the present instance, a doublefaced pressure-sensitive tape 49 is mounted in the bottom of the recess 46 to adhere to the upper layer defining the bottom of the recess and to the article. Of course, other means may be used to anchor the article in the recess, if desired or necessary.

While the foregoing description has made reference to the use of a transparentmaterial to cover the recess, it will be apparent that where transparency is not desired or necessary, translucent or opaque materials may be used.

In packages where it is desired to provide an easy-open feature, and particularly in packages where there, are several recesses and it is desired to enable removal of the merchandise from only selected recesses, it is contemplated that the display board be perforated through the lower layer in registry with the bottom of the recesses containing the merchandise. The perforations in the lower layer of the display board permit removal of the compressed portion of the core material underlying the recess and therefore removal of the merchandise through the bottom of the recess without disturbing the protection afforded the merchandise remaining in the other recesses by the cover on the upper surface of the display board.

Reference has been made to the printing of the upper surface of the display board. This may be accomplished by printing directly on the upper layer 13, or may be accomplished by laminating onto the upper layer 13 a preprinted sheet, which may be of high-quality paper or other sheet material affording appropriate decorative effects.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been herein illustrated and/or described, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure, but changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A display package comprising a display board having a layer of foam plastic material which is compressible without rupture, and on the inner and outer surfaces of which are secured respectively, sheets of paperboard, said board in one surface having a recess, the side walls of which are substantially normal to said surface and are defined by said foam plastic material in substantially un-\ compressed condition, the bottom of said recess being defined by a separated portion of the sheet of paperboard forming said one surface of the display board, said separated portion conforming in outline to the outline of said recess, the foamed plastic material between said separated portion and the opposite surface of said display board being in permanently compressed condition, merchandise in said recess and a cover mounted on said display board to retain said merchandise in said recess.

2. A display package according to claim 1 wherein said foam plastic material consists of unicellular styrene foam having a normal density in the order of 4 pounds per cubic foot, and is able to take and hold permanent compression set.

3. A display package according to claim 1 wherein said cover is transparent to permit visual inspection of said merchandise.

4. A display package according to claim 1 wherein the peripheral edge of said display board is beveled by reason of the core material being compressed to a substantial extent about the outer periphery thereof.

5. A display package according to claim 1 wherein said cover comprises a plastic sheath wrapped about said board and shrunk-fit to conform intimately to the contour of said board.

6. A display package according to claim 1 wherein said cover comprises a film overlying said recess and adhesively secured to said upper layer.

7. A display package according to claim 1 wherein said cover comprises a preformed cover piece secured to said board to overlie the merchandise and said recess.

8. A display package according to claim 1 including means independent of said cover to anchor said merchandise in said recess.

9. A display package according to claim 7 wherein said anchor means comprises adhesive means in the bottom of said recess to adhesively secure said merchandise to the separated portion defining the bottom surface of said recess.

10. A display package according to claim 1 wherein said cover includes an extended portion of said display in registry with the bottom of said recess, removal of 5 said perforated portion aifording removal of the compressed portion of the core material underlying the recess and therefore removal of the merchandise through the bottom of the recess.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,770,406 11/56 Lane 2293.5

6 2,860,768 11/58 Smithers 229146 2,885,073 5/59 Bettoli et a1. 20660 3,096,879 7/63 Schumacher 20646 3,154,074 10/64 Harrison 206-65 X FOREIGN PATENTS 73 2,921 6/55 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. LOUIS G. MANCENE, Examiner. 

1. A DISPLAY PACKAGE COMPRISING A DISPLAY BOARD HAVING A LAYER OF FOAM PLASTIC MATERIAL WHICH IS COMPRESSIBLE WITHOUT RUPTURE, AND ON THE INNER AND OUTER SURFACES OF WHICH ARE SECURED RESPECTIVELY, SHEETS OF PAPERBOARD, SAID BOARD IN ONE SURFACE HAVING A RECESS, THE SIDE WALLS OF WHICH ARE SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID SURFACE AND ARE DEFINED BY SAID FOAM PLASTIC MATERIAL IN SUBSTANTIALLY UNCOMPRESSED CONDITION, THE BOTTOM OF SAID RECESS BEING DEFINED BY A SEPARATED PORTION OF THE SHEET OF PAPERBOARD 